Vehicle-shaft support



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H. HARDEN.

VEHICLE SHAFT SUPPORT.

APPLICATION FILED ocT. e, 1919.

1,348,109, Patented July 27, 1920.

VVITNESSES A'FTORNEY only part way toward the free endsof the ears 13 and having upward and Vdownward horizontally disposed walls 14 entending extensions 15, comprising attaching ears which are suitably apertured for the reception of fastening bolts 16 traversing certain ofthe series of perforations 10 in'thesupv porting bar 5 and actingtorigidly holdthe bracket 11 in any desired elevation. j

-The ears 13 are provided with alined apertures for the reception of a pivotal post 17 which may be suitably riveted orv otherwise held in the .ears 13. A pair of swinging jaws, similar in construction,'are pivotally mounted upon the post 17, each jaw being formed of suitable sheet metal andV bent to provide spacedA sidewalls 18 joined longitudinally along their outer edges Vby walls 19. One of the jaws is of a width to freely enter between the ears 13,. while the-'other j awV is of a width toenter between the side walls of the irst named jaw as will be readily understood, and the several side walls of passageway for the reception of a portion of constitute inwardly` directed spaced ears,A

that member ofthe device carried by the cross barof the thills. The outer 'terminals of the side walls of the jaws are formed with opposed inclined edges 24 to provide a narrowing entrance to the seats 23a-nd having suitable apertures for the reception of pivots'25, upon which are mounted rollers 26iof a diameter to extend inwardlybei y'ond the said ears and to abut against each other when the jaws are closed. Itwill be seen that the tendency'of the Ispring is to force the inner terminals of the jaws against the inner facesV ofthe walls 14` sothat the j said jaws may only lbe moved in a direction about the pivot post to separate their outer en ds carryinc the' rollers 26. and that the saidV jaws may not be moved in'unison in an Vup and Vdown'dire'otion. j The keeper member'12 comprises,v a horizontally disposed bar having "a, central bore or passageway/27 `andprovided at its ends with arms-28 having outstanding attaching ears 29, suitably apertured for thereception of'boltsor screws 30 "which securely fasten the same to the under side ofthe cross bar 4 -when the latter is in elevated. position. When the shafts are being elevated, the vmember 12 will enter between the'inclined edges 24 and be directed between the rollers 26, which will be forced-apart to, permit of the passage thereof and will be closed again through the action of the spring when the member 12 is Alocated between the seats 23. The spring 21 is of suiiicient strength to prevent the separation of ,the-rollers, 26 by reason only of the weight of the shafts, but by a slight pull thereon, the shaftsmay be freedto be low-Y ered when it is desired tohitch up an animal orv for any'other reason.

A- locking device may be employed when it isdesiredto-positively lock the shafts in elevated position, and this device consists of a pair of spaced bars `31 joined at one end by a cross bar 32, thus forminga-U-shaped member, oneof the'bars 31 of which is adaptedto be inserted' in the bore or passageway 27 of the keeper member and the otherV bar 31 of-which will lie immediately'beneath the lower jaw which will then be positively pre- Y vented from movement with relation to the keeperandthus the shafts will be locked as described. Y Y

The' Vsupporting bar 5 not only performs the function of serving as a base or support for the holding device, but it serves to brace the dashboard. Y,

From theforegoing it will beseen that a simple, cheap and eiiicient shaft supporting device has been provided which will automatically engage or disengage to-V hold or liberate the shafts ofvehicles and whichv may be adjustedto fit any make of the latter.

What isclaimedisz-f v 1. In combination with thevdashboard of a vehicle, a vertically disposed supporting bar extending along one face of the dashboard, means for securing the bar to the dashboard, Ameans for supporting the shafts of the vehicle, said means Yconsisting of one part secured rigidly to the said bar and a coperatingpart connected to the shafts of the vehicle, andv means locking the two parts of the supporting means together. Y 2. In combinationwith the dashboard of a vehicle, a vertically disposed supporting bar secured to one face lof the dashboard and serving as a brace therefor, a holding device carried in part by the supporting bar and .in part by the cross 'bar of the shafts, said holding device serving lto maintain the shafts in raised position, and means carried by the part of the holding device whichis on the cross bar lfor engaging with the supplementary. part to lock the two parts when in engagement.

3. In combination withthe dashboard of a vehicle, a vertically disposed supporting bar arranged along the front face thereof, means for securing the supportingbarto the dashboard, means for holding the shafts inraised position, said means comprising an element adjustably secured to the sup'- porting bar and another element secured to the cross bar of the shafts, and means swingably mounted on the element which is secured to the cross bar for engaging with the supplementary element to lock the two elements together when in engagement.

4. The combination with a vehicle body and shafts, of a supporting bar adapted to be bolted to the dash of the vehicle, a bracket mounted for vertical adjustment upon the bar, said bracket comprising forwardly directed spaced ears, swinging jaws pivotally mounted between the ears, a spring mounted upon the pivot of the jaws and having its terminals bearing outwardly against the inner ends of the jaws to force their outer ends toward each other, rollers carried by the jaws, said ends being tapered along their inner opposed edges to form an entrance throat to the rollers, opposed seats formed in said edges in rear of the rollers, and a keeper adapted to be secured to the cross bar of the vehicle shafts in spaced relation thereto and in position to be forced between the rollers and into the seats when the shafts are raised.

5. The combination with a vehicle body and shafts, of a supporting bar adapted to Y be bolted to the dash of the vehicle, a

bracket mounted for vertical adjustment upon the bar, said bracket comprising forwardly directed spaced ears arranged side by side, vertically swinging jaws pivotally mounted between the ears, a coiled spring mounted upon the pivot of the jaws and having its terminal bearing outwardly against the inner ends of the jaws to force their outer ends toward each other, rollers carried by the jaws adjacent their outer free ends, said ends being tapered along their inner opposed edges to form an en-.

trance throat to the rollers, opposed seats formed in said edges in rear of the rollers, a keeper adapted to be secured to the cross bar of the vehicle shafts in spaced relation thereto and in position to be forced between the rollers and into the seats when the shafts are raised, and a locking member comprisving spaced bars joined at one end, said bars engaging the keeper and one of the aws to prevent their separation.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

HARRY HARDEN.

Vitnesses:

E. E. HULL, VM. S. MURRAY. 

